The Topeka, Kansas-based church led by pastor Fred Phelps is notorious for its angry, anti-gay protests, “God hates fags” signs, and picketing at funerals of deceased U.S. military personnel with signs declaring “Thank God for dead soldiers.”

Members of Westboro Baptist church at a protest.

“The graves of our veterans are hallowed ground. And obviously we all defend our Constitution and the First Amendment and free speech, but we also believe that when men and women die in the service of their country and are laid to rest, it should be done with the utmost honor and respect,” said President Barack Obama, in remarks at the signing ceremony.

The Westboro Baptist Church first drew national attention during the 1998 funeral of slain Wyoming university student Matthew Shepard, when its members protested with neon signs depicting stick figures of males engaged in anal sex, and other signs with messages that proclaimed “God Hates Fags” and “Fags = AIDS = Death.”

In recent years, Westboro has drawn scrutiny for protests at the funerals of U. S. service members killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan, which members claim is due to America’s growing acceptance of the “fag lifestyle,” according to Phelps’ daughter Shirley Phelps-Roper.

The bill also ends a decade-long struggle for those who serve at Camp Lejeune — many of the veterans and their families who were based in Camp Lejeune in the years when the water was contaminated, will now have access to extended medical care.

“Sadly, this act alone will not bring back those we’ve lost,” said Obama. “But it will honor their memory by making a real difference for those who are still suffering.”